Beet topper



Dec. 27, 1938. n v A. zlELESCH 2,141,806

BEET TOPPER .Filed .July 19, 1957 WAZ el es Cl?,- @N gsmz.

ATTORNEY Patented Dec. 27,

UNITED STATES;

PATENT OFFICE 2,141,806 nEE'r Torri-:n

WilliamA. Zielesch, Sacramento, Calif. Appueatieniuly 19, i937, serial No. 154,373

- s claims. (ci. 55-1117) I This invention relates to sugar-beet topping machines my principal object being to provide an apparatus for the purpose having a cutter to remove the tops from the beets while they are still in the ground, andarranged so that it, will be automatically disposed at a level such as to cut onlythe proper amount of the top from each top successively with the movement of the machine along the ground, irrespective of any difference a in height of the different beet tops relative to the ground level. Excessive removal of the crown portion of the beets with the accompanying waste is thus avoided, as well as the objections incident to insufllcient topping of the b'eets.

'I have also provided a simple means for elevatingthe beets clear ofv the ground after they have been topped and for delivering the same to a truck or other vehicle moving along with the machine to one side thereof.

A further object ofthe invention is vto pro--l duce a simple and inexpensive device and yet one which will be exceedingly effective for the purpose for which it is designed.

These objects I accomplish by means of such 25 4structure and relative arrangement of parts as Vwill fully appear by a perusal of the following specification and claims. v

'I'he ligure on the drawing is a side view partly in section of my improved beet topper as in 30 operation.

Referring now more particularly to the characters' of reference on the drawing, the machine comprises a lorlzontal frame which includes side beams I, the frame being supported intermediate its ends by wheels 2 and having .a tongue 3 rigid with its front end and adapted for supporting connection with the draw bar of a tractor.

Pivoted on the frame adjacent its forward end as at 4 is a downwardly and rearwardly curving shoe 5, adapted at its rear end to ride successively on the crowns of a row of beets B as themachine moves along the ground. Disposed in line with `tlieshoe rearwardly of the same is a rotary disc l cutter i. In order to function to the best advantage, the peripheral edge of this disc is of wavy 'or scalloped contour, and is preferably sawtoothed as shown.' This is positioned with its A front edge adjacent the rear end of the shoe and a short distance below the same and is set so that its axial shaft 1 extends with an upward and rearward slant, so that the underside of the forward portion of the dished disc is substantially horizontal.

The shaft 1 is slidable and turnable in a sultable bearlng 8 suspended from the frame, and

intermediate its ends and above the bearing a grooved collar 9 is adjustably clamped thereon. A yoke I 0 is mounted on the collar in relatively turnable relation, and on its forward side is connected to the shoe by a substantially vertical link 5 AI I. On its opposite rear side the yoke is pivotally connected toone end Aof a lever I2. This lever is pivoted intermediate its ends on theframe as at I3 and beyond the pivot carries an adjustable counterweight I4.

By means of this construction it will be seen that as the shoe-engages and rides on each beet in turn, it raises or lowers the cutter accordingly. Said cutter following immediately behind the shoe engages .and begins to top a beet before the shoe 15 passes beyond said beet. All the beets are thus 1 topped to the same depth, irrespective of the 1eve1 of -the crowns of different beets relative to the ground surface. The depth of topping of all the beets may be altered by adjusting the position of m the collar 9 on the shaft l, which enables the vertical distance of spacing of the front edge of the cutter relative to the beet engaging surface of the shoe to be altered to suit different types or sizes of beet.

The counterweight takes most of the downwardy pressure of the shoe and cutter, enabling-'the shoe to ride lightly on the beets yet with sufficient` x rmness to assure proper positioning of the cutter. so Above the collar the shaft I is slidably splined in a sleeve I5 journaled against axial movement in. a bearing bracket I6 supported on the frame. lThis sleeve. carries a bevel pinion I'I engaged by a bevel gear I8 driven from a suitable powerunit on the machine such as a gas engine, indicated at I9. 'I'he cutter is thus constantly driven at any desired speed without interfering with the axial movement of the cutter shaft'.

After the beets are topped they are preferably o loosened and raised somewhatfrom the ground by a digger or plough .of conventional form, indil Vcated at 20, and which is mounted between the wheels. 'I'he loosened and raised beets are then successively engaged andelevated clear of the 4|;

ground by hook-like prongs 2| of suitable form mounted on and projecting from an endless chain conveyor 22. This-conveyor projects upwardly from adjacent the ground a suitable distance behind the digger and is pivoted at its upper end 5o u Letters Patent is:

from the engine I! `or by driving connections with one of the wheels 2 as indicated at 24.

One run of the conveyor of course travels up and the prongs face upwardly on said run. The beets are thus dragged from the ground and elevated and as they pass over the top of the conveyor they leave theprongs and are received on a downwardly sloping grate-apron 25. This de- Aliversthe beets onto a driven cross conveyor 26 Y having an upwardly and angularly projecting extension 21 at one end adapted to overhang and ldeliver into the body of a truck or the like moving alongside the topping machine. The extension of the cross conveyor may project either from the right or` left hand side of the machine,'as may be desired.

"Beet topping operations are thus carried out in a continuous and effective manner and the harvesting of the beets and their delivery onto a vehicle for transportation is also effected automatically with the one movement of the machine.

along the ground.

From the foregoing description it will be readily seen that I have produced such a device as substantially fulfills the objects of the invention as set forth herein.

While this specification sets forth in detail the present and preferred construction of the device, still in practice such deviations from such detail may be resorted to as do not form a departure from the spirit of the invention. las defined by the appended claims.

Having thusv described my invention, what I justable on the shaft axially thereof whereby the vertical spacing of the leading edge ofthe cutter relative to the beet engaging surface may be altered.

2. A beet topper comprising a frame mounted of the shoe for movement along the `ground, a shoe engageable at one point with the tops of the beets, means mounting the shoe onthe frame for vertical movement at said point, a rotary beet topping cutter immediately behind the shoe, an axial drive shaft upstandingfrom the cutter, a collar fixed on the shaft, a yoke relatively turnable on the collar, and a substantially vertical link connecting the yoke and shoe, and a counter-weight applied to the'yoke and tending to offset the weight of the cutter and shoe. l

3; In 'combination with a beet topper including a frame mounted for ymovement along the ground; a beet topping cutter mounted on the frame for movement in a vertical plane, a shoe mounted on the frame for yieldble movement in a vertical plane, said shoe being disposed to engage with the tops of beets ahead of the cutter, and means between the shoe and cutter to raise and lower the latter with movement of said shoe in such plane; a counter-weight unit operatively connected with said means and tending to offset the weight of said cutter and shoe.

4. A device as in claim 3 in whcih the counterweight unit includes a lever pivoted intermediate its en ds on the frame, one end of the lever being operatively connected with said means, and a counter-weight element adjustably secured on the lever beyond the pivot and on the free portion of said lever.

5. A beet topper comprlsinga frame mounted for movement along the ground, a shoe engageable at one point with the tops of the beets, means mounting the shoe on the frame for vertical movement at said point, a rotary beet topping cutter immediately behind the shoe, an axial drive shaft upstanding from the cutter, a collar fixed on the shaft above the shoe, a yoke surrounding the collar and relatively turnable thereon, an upstandlng link connected between lthe shoe and the yoke, a bell-crank lever pivoted on the frame, the outer end of one`arm of said lever being pivotally connected on the yoke, and a counter-weight element secured on the other arm of said lever. l

6.v A device as in claim 5 in which said link and said one arm of the bell-crank lever are pivoted on the yoke en opposite sides thereof whereby to Y prevent binding between saidyoke and collar.

WILLIAMA ZIELESCH. 

